Wednesday, July 9, 2008

It's raining again...

So it's July and summer is here and it's raining yet again. So what shall I do? The ironing calls (as it always seems to lately), the hoovering needs doing (but husband is not back today, so no need to panic about that just yet) I have a letter to write, dusting to do (before we all come down with dust allergies) and all manner of other things, before I even start thinking about knitting.

So what shall I do? Someone in the staff room today brought in some fudge (shop bought, mass produced pretty unpleasant stuff) and I got in the mood for making some myself. So I went to Sainsbury's, bought the stuff and started playing in the kitchen.

May I present you with a step-by-step guide to making chocolate and pecan fudge.

Firstly assemble your ingredients - sugar, condensed milk, butter, chocolate and pecans. In a big pan, place 6floz water, the tin of condensed milk, 1 pound sugar and 4oz butter. Please bear in mind that I'm 42 and have not gone metric yet!

Put said pan on the heat and bring to the boil. Then start to boil rapidly, stirring all the time (you don't want this to stick believe me). Carry on until you reach the soft ball stage (see below).

Now this sounds complicated and technical, but it isn't. With your spoon, place a small amount of mixture in a jug of cold water. It should come together and form a soft ball - if it doesn't, just cook it for a bit longer.

This mixture is now very hot - you have been warned! Turn the heat off and stir in 6oz of plain chocolate. Stir like mad being careful not to splash yourself.

Add 40z chopped pecans and stir again. As it starts to cool, it will thicken up. Pour into a square tin (I think this one is about 8 inches square) lined with baking parchment. When it's cold it will be set beautifully and you can cut it into squares and eat it all up.

I would show you the finished product, all cut up and placed in individual teeny weeny paper cases, but it isn't set yet, so I can't.

However, would anyone out there like to try some? Competition time folks! Just leave a comment and I'll draw out a winner later on in the week, sending some to one bloggy person. If you have a nut allergy, don't enter, but as the ingredients don't involve flour, it's gluten free....

No, that's not fair. I'm discriminating against nutty sufferers. If you are nut product intolerant, let me know and I'll make you some fresh stuff without the nuts.

Damn I'm good to you.

21 comments:

Anonymous said...

yes,you are good to us.
Thanks for recipe.
I am never going metric,it's pounds and ounces for me for ever.
Pat.

Sue Krekorian said...

I'm drooling - it looks so delicious and yumptious...!

Ambermoggie, a fragrant soul said...

fabulous and I'd love some:))

Mama said...

Yes you ARE good to us - especially if you are willing to include those of us who are distance-challenged : )
Haven't made fudge in ages. Love to be in the draw!

ps: naughty TLG forgot to include a note with his package - so, if you get something from America bearing a Silver Spring return address, chances are very good that it is from him!

pps: Fireman Sam backpack still an everyday/all-occassion accessory.

naiadkitty said...

Oh! Thank you for the visual of soft ball stage! I've been too scared to try candy making, since I didn't know what the stage should look like. I'll have to try this out!

Penny said...

Imperial measurements always seem much better for cooking then metric ones. I always choose them and I'm not 42 yet..

The fudge looks delish!

Anonymous said...

Mmmmm fudge.

picperfic said...

what about a chocolate allergy? I'm fine with the nuts!!

Cybèle said...

Have you seen this blog yet? http://thecakedcrusader.blogspot.com/ (just hope I didn't find it through your blog! I lose track of where I find what...) I recently made the strawberry cupcakes from this blog and they're soooo good. Even when Wimbledon is over ;-)

Anonymous said...

Your fudge looks delicious. I've always loved home made fudge so please let me win!

Cathy {tinniegirl} said...

I would love to enter but I fear it might be too hard to send it all the way to Australia. It would lose it's lovely freshness. I will just have to try it myself!

Monkee Maker said...

Oooooh - I thought I could smell something cooking!! Am I allowed to enter even tho I'm kinda blogless at the moment? If I'm here, I'm in, right?

Thanks to your post I now have a hankering for some condensed milk which was a regular treat as a child. Damn and blast my parents for forcing this sweet tooth on me!

:)

ps. Loving your flowery shoes; please make sure they're hidden from your hubby at all times in future!

Anonymous said...

me, me, me. I love fudge.

I'll even come and collect it, save you the postage.

xx

Anonymous said...

that looks delish! I made banolo (banana's, melted rolo's with a dash of cream)meringue yesterday and it was yummy too!
I have to rush..... gotta go to the shops for the ingrdients for your fudge... drool! I think I've put on two pounds just looking at your pics

Anonymous said...

I am also grateful for your illustration of the soft ball stage. I wish I could do some ironing for you and have a tiny bit of many of your fabulous puds and other goodies. (

Giulietta

Locket Pocket said...

Oooooh scrumdiddlyumptious! Count me in please! I love your comment about not needing to bother with the hoovering yet! Lucy x

Mary deB said...

I was just thinking I would have to make some, but I'd have to convert all those weight measurements to volume. We Canadians measure sugar and butter in cups -- though water I'd think of in milliliters. (Weird...)

But now I can just win some! Nut-free please, or I'd have to eat it all and not share with my children.

Anonymous said...

Although the fudge looks great, this isn't a entry for the draw, because I'm quite lardy enough already, thank you.

No, this is note to let you know that John Lewis in Cambridge (or maybe nationally?) have lots of half-price Rowan. Go on, buy some. You know you want to.

trash said...

You are too kind, it is true. Verrry intriguing recipe, I shall add it to my list of 'things to do with children during Summer holidays when the rain never stops!'

Mrs Moog said...

Oooooooooooooooooh me ...please pick me.I love fudge more than anyone else in the WHOLE WIDE WORLD - it's official. I'm sure if you were to google fudge you'd find my name right there at the top!!!

xxxxx

p.s. did I happen to mention that I think you are truly wonderful?

p.p.s. not trying to bias the fudge judge or anything...

Eve said...

Ohh, fudge, must make some. what a pity if I accidentially added some choc, hubby and 2 sons don't like choc, so that would mean more for me and youngest son; now there is an idea, lol. Thanks for the recipe. I started life metric and have had to convert backwards (no, not sayin brits are backward, lol).